To the north of my study lie cliff-caves reputed to have been inhabited by eighth-century Christian hermits - the Culdees (Celide: ‘Friends of God’).

The first was comprehensively Romanized under the Canmores, yet it retained one important institution in the Céli Dé, or Culdees.

Over the following 300 years, our separate Scottish kingdom protected many who maintained the Celtic or Culdee customs.

Origin

Late Middle English: from medieval Latinculdeus, alteration, influenced by Latincultores Dei 'worshipers of God', of kelledei (plural, found in early Scottish records), from Old Irishcéle dé, literally 'companion of God'.